Upcoming Days

Event Information:

• Tue

  14

  Feb

  2023

  The Repose of Our Venerable Father Constantine the Philosopher, in the Monastic Life, Cyril, Teacher of the Slavs (869); and our Venerable Father Auxentius (457-74); and the Venerable Maron the Wonderworker and Hermit

  GREAT VESPERS

  At Psalm 140

  In Tone 4

  If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

  О Father, you shone with the beauty of virtue,* and you went about the whole world,* like a bee putting the purest honey of divine wisdom* in the good hearts of those believing in the one Christ,* who came on earth and visited our lowliness* with his endless mercy and humility.

  I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

  О Father, you shone with the beauty of virtue,* and you went about the whole world,* like a bee putting the purest honey of divine wisdom* in the good hearts of those believing in the one Christ,* who came on earth and visited our lowliness* with his endless mercy and humility.

  From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

  With the wisdom of meekness* and filled with love of God and knowledge of the true faith,* you netted the cities and countryside for God, О blessed Cyril.* By grace you came to those who had not received saving wisdom,* and therefore, we praise you with holy hymns.

  For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

  With the wisdom of meekness* and filled with love of God and knowledge of the true faith,* you netted the cities and countryside for God, О blessed Cyril.* By grace you came to those who had not received saving wisdom,* and therefore, we praise you with holy hymns.

  Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

  You lived а life without fault and worthy of praise,* and your death was precious to God in the eyes of all.* Glorious with righteousness, О Father,* you gave your soul into God’s hands.* Therefore, we ask you to pray to him for mercy* for those who faithfully praise you.

  Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

  You lived а life without fault and worthy of praise,* and your death was precious to God in the eyes of all.* Glorious with righteousness, О Father,* you gave your soul into God’s hands.* Therefore, we ask you to pray to him for mercy* for those who faithfully praise you.

  In Tone 8, Glory… Now…

  Come, O you who love the feasts of the Church,* and with songs of praise* let us hymn the peers of the apostles, the adornment of hierarchs,* the enlighteners and fervent helpers of the Slavic peoples, saying:* Rejoice, O Cyril, golden clarion of theology,* who explained the mystery of the Holy Trinity by comparing God to the sun,* and thereby closed the blasphemous mouths of the Moslems!* And rejoice with him, O Methodius, who struggled with him in oneness of mind,* aiding him with prayers and signs!* And now, O most blessed fathers,* never cease to pray to Christ God for us* who magnify you with faith and love.

  Readings

  (1) Deuteronomy 1:8-17; (2) Deuteronomy 10:14-21; (3) Wisdom 3:1-9

  Aposticha

  In Tone 3

  O peoples, let us sing the praise of the Fast,* the beginning of the spiritual struggle;* let us set aside our desires of the flesh* that we may grow in the gifts of the spirit.* As servants of Christ, let us suffer as He did* that we may be glorified as children of God.* May the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts* make his light shine on our souls.

  I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.

  O peoples, let us sing the praise of the Fast,* the beginning of the spiritual struggle;* let us set aside our desires of the flesh* that we may grow in the gifts of the spirit.* As servants of Christ, let us suffer as He did* that we may be glorified as children of God.* May the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts* make his light shine on our souls.

  Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.

  The soldiers of Christ have banished all fear* before the kings and tyrants;* with great courage they have confessed the Lord of the universe,* our King and our God;* and now they intercede for our souls.

  In Tone 8, Glory…

  The pure spiritual memory of the saints dwelt in your pure heart,* О venerable father, most blessed Cyril.* It showed you to be an exorcist terrifying to the evil spirits* and а doctor of hidden illnesses.* Therefore, since you have confidence before God, the Lover of mankind,* pray to him without ceasing to free us from stain of soul and body.

  Troparion

  In Tone 4

  From your childhood you befriended wisdom,* O God-inspired Cyril.* Beholding her as a pure virgin all radiant* you took her as a bride for yourself,* and as with beads of gold* she adorned your mind and soul.* O blessed Cyril,* like your namesake of Alexandria* we have found you wise in name and truth.

  Glory… Now…

  O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created,* and saved our souls from death.

   

  DIVINE LITURGY

  Troparia and Kontakia

  Troparion, Tone 4: From your childhood you befriended wisdom,* O God-inspired Cyril.* Behold her as a pure virgin all radiant* you took her as a brie for yourself,* and as with beads of gold* she adorned your mind and soul.* O blessed Cyril,* like your namesake of Alexandria* we have found you wise in name and truth.

  Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

  Kontakion, Tone 2: With teaching that was sound and divinely inspired* you enlightened the world as with luminous rays.* Flashing like lightning and surrounding the world* you scattered the radiant word of God* in the west, the north, and the southern lands,* bringing light to the world with your wonders, O blessed Cyril.

  Prokeimenon, Tone 7

  Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.

  verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)

  Epistle

  Hebrews 7:26-8:2

  Alleluia, Tone 6

  verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.

  verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)

  Gospel

  John 10:9-16

  Communion Hymn

  The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)